Thursday, March 07, 2013

Erdemir Warner crouched behind home plate preparing to catch the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day for Malibu Little League. But this was no ordinary first pitch. The wideeyed 12-year-old was about to catch a ball thrown from one of baseball’s greatest-ever players.

With chants of “Barry, Barry, Barry” drifting across the Majors diamond at Bluffs Park last Saturday morning, former major league star and current home run king Barry Bonds threw out the first pitch to Warner, who couldn’t believe what had happened.

“Like it’s incredible that he threw that to me. I was so flabbergasted,” Warner said. “It was just the greatest moment. It means everything.”

...On Saturday he came to Malibu to support his godson, Riley Banvard, who was playing little league for the very first time. To no one’s surprise, the 11-yearold Banvard wore number 25 with “Giants” emblazoned across his chest.

“I haven’t seen [an opening day] in a while. I’m here for my little godson. It’s nice to come here in this beautiful weather,” Bonds said. “Opening Day is always going to be exciting. When I go back and think about it, that’s the one day I looked forward to. It’s the first day with everyone getting together. You have your first game; you get your first hit. It’s great. For the kids it’s awesome.”

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“I haven’t seen [an opening day] in a while. I’m here for my little godson. It’s nice to come here in this beautiful weather,” Bonds said. “Opening Day is always going to be exciting. When I go back and think about it, that’s the one day I looked forward to. It’s the first day with everyone getting together. You have your first game; you get your first hit. It’s great. For the kids it’s awesome.”

This is good stuff.
One more thing you tend to forget: brand-new uniforms smell awesome.